AN HISTORIC CHURCH 



Makemie Memorial 
Presbyterian Church 



SNOW HILL, MARYLAND 



MRS. MARY M. NORTH 
1904. 



LIBt?aRV nf CONGRESS 
Two OoDies Received 
OCT 11 1904 
^CoDyrteht Entry 

CLASS ^ XXo.No. 



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J 
Y B 



.2t,HS. 



CopyriKlit 19(»4 
Mrs. Marv M. North 



Alessengfr Piiiit, Snow Hill, Ahl 




AKEMIH Memorial Presbyterian Church, in 
Snow Hill, Maryland, holds a unique position 
among the churches of the United States, for it 
will in a few years celebrate the quarter mil- 
lennial of its organization. The town in which 
the church is located is in that section know^n 
as the "Eastern Shore," and has an ideal cli- 
mate, the air being tempered with salt enough 
to make it exhilarating. Snow Hill is situated 
upon the Pocomoke river, which flows through 
cypress swamps, that dye the waters a rich mahogany color. 
The river is very crooked, and is noted for its great depth, as 
well as for being very narrow. To the west, lies the Chesa- 
peake Bay. Only seven miles to the east, is that long 
narrow body of salt water, Synepuxent Bay, (the home of 
the oyster), which is separated from the Atlantic ocean by 
the narrowest possible strip of sandy beach . 

Before 1686 Snow Hill was a growing town, but in that 
year the law-makers recognized its importance, and that it 
should be classed as a town, and so it was laid out as such by 
an act of the General Assembly. The act prescribed that the 



houses were to cover four hundred feet of ground, and the 
chimneys were to be built of brick. At this time the town 
was still in Somerset County, that county not being divided 
until 1742, when Thomas Bladen was Governor of Maryland. 
At that time an act was pas.sed for laying out anew the town 
of Snow Hill. 

And .so, forty-six years before the A.ssembly passed a 
similar act for any other town^in that great territory, Snow 
Hill was a town of some importance, and already a port of 
entry and export. Even Baltimore came forty-three years 
after Snow Hill. 

There is no doubt that the people who .settled here were 
Protestants, for the Sheriff of Somerset reports: "Here are 
neither Popi.sh Priests, lay brothers, nor any of their chapels. 
As to Quakers and other di.ssenters, to the first, none as I 
know of particularly; and the other hath a hou.se in Snow 
Hill, one on the road going up along the seaside, one at 
Manokin, about thirty feet long — plain country buildings all 
of them . ' ' 

All Hallows Protestant Episcopal Church was established 
here prior to 1709, for it is spoken of at that date in a commu- 
nication now in the possession of the Bi.shop of Eondon. In 




MAKEMiE Memorial Presbyterian Church 



the same manuscript a dissenting minister is metitioned. He 
probably was the Presbyterian organizer, or the minister in 
charge of the church at that place. 

In 1681, Presbyterians in Somerset were writing to the 
mother country for a minister. Francis Makemie, a licentiate 
of the Presbytery of Laggan, in Ireland, was sent them. In 
Bible days when St. Paul reached a new country he went in- 
to the cities and towns, and it is probable that Makemie did 
the same, and as there were Presbyterians in Snow Hill, it is 
reasonable to suppose that he organized them into a church 
and then continued his labors in nearby localities. In the 
absence of documentary proof that any other church was 
organized first, Presbyterians of Snow Hill claim this, and if 
this church were not the first, the fact remains that the 
"Eastern Shore" of Maryland was the birth-place of Presby- 
terianism in America. 

Craighead, in "Scotch and Irish Seed in American Soil," 
says about Makemie that, "arriving in this country in 1682 
or 1683, he organized a church in vSnow Hill, Md., in 1684, 
which was, so far as now known, the first regularly organized 
Presbyterian Church in America." 

About that time, Makemie organized five churches — Snow 



Hill, Rehoboth, Manokin, Pitt's Creek, and Wicomico in 
Somerset county, which then included the present counties of 
Somerset, Worcester and Wicomico. To celebrate the two 
hundredth anniversary of the fouiiding of their church, the 
Presbyterians of Snow Hill began the erection of the present 
handsome structure, which is a memorial to the man who 
organized the first churches in America, Rev. Francis 
Makemie. 

The present building (Makemie Memorial) is of red brick, 
with red sandstone trimmings. There are five beautiful 
memorial windows in the church. Three of them very large, 
and two of medium size. The one in front is The Sowers, and 
is a splendid work of art. It is a memorial to John Richard- 
son, who was for many years an Elder in the church; and the 
money was furnished by his daughter, I,ady Martha Kort- 
right, of England. 

The large window on the north with a design of a lily-en- 
twined cross is a memorial to Mrs. Henrietta E. W. Smith, 
and was the gift of the Sabbath School. 

On the same side is a smaller window embellished with two 
angels, a memorial to Elizabeth S. Townsend, from her sons. 

The large window on the south is embellished with the 




The Manse 



figures representing, Faith, Hope and Charity. It is a memor- 
ial to Mrs. Elleanora Richardson and was given by her 
husband, the late George S. Richardson. Near this window is 
one of smaller size with the figure of the paralytic on it. The 
descendants of Dr. John Selby Martin gave it in memory of 
him and his wife, Rebecca Grace Martin. Dr. Martin was for 
a third of a century a Ruling Elder of the church. The pulpit 
was given by Mrs. Jane M. Kelso, in memory of her brothers, 
Revs. Elkanah D. and William D. Mackey, who were suc- 
cessive pastors of the church, A. D. 1857 — 68. 

The font, a superb piece of workmanship, is of sandstone, 
and represents an open water lily, springing from a cluster of 
leaves. It stands about three feet high. It is a memorial to 
Edward Smith Handy, of Philadelphia. 

In the grave yard adjoining the church among many others 
of sainted memory, lie the remains of two members of Gen- 
eral Washington's staff, Lieutenant Colonel Eevin Handy and 
Major James Handy; also Judge Ara Spence, Irving Spence, 
Hon. Ephraim King Wilson, Mr. George S. Richardson, Rev. 
Elkanah Dare Mackey, Mr. J. P. Duffield, Hon. John R. 
Franklin, Mrs. Sally W. Hutchinson, daughter of Col. John 
Gunby, of the Revolutionary Army; Matthew Hopkins, born 

11 

L.afC. 



1776, and for many years Register of Wills of Worcester Co- 
Mrs. Margaret Ann P. Robins, daughter of Rev. John P. 
Robins; Mrs. Elizabeth Whittington, daughter of Col. Samuel 
Handy; Mrs. Zipporah William.son, wife of the Rev. Stuart 
Williamson. 

The early records state that the first edifice was a "plain 
country building, " so it is presumed that it was built of logs. 
This gave place in 1751 to a frame building, which in 1795 was 
superseded by a brick structure, which cost ;^142-5s— 4d ex- 
clusive of pews, and the pastor's salarv at that time was 
/44— 13s-2d. 

Some interesting items are gleaned from old records. The 
committee of the Presbyterian Church consisting of Jame^ 
Martin, John Stevenson, James Nairn, Moses Nelson, Levi 
Hudson, Thomas Martin, Robert Smith, George Rice, William 
Stevenson, Joseph Stevenson, Ezekiel Wise and Johii Rock, 
was incorporated December 19th, 1800. 

VrJnJn'^'* ''^^^^ ^,7- J'""' '^'fction of the committee the following were choseu : John R 
u'^'m^HI ' ; '• \; ^^i'-'?"' I-emuel P. Collins. E. K. Richardson George S. Richardson 
R. 1. Waters Hugh M. Stevenson, Thomas F.Stevenson, Irving Spence, Samuel H 
Jarman. John R. P Moore, and L.. R. Bishop. Forty years late? the comnait "e 00.": 
piises: J. Samuel I'rice, Oscar M. Purnell, Clarence 1,. Vincent John I- Moore 
Marion V. Hargi.s, Wiliinm I. Rounds, Dr. John S. Aydelotte, Adial P Harnes Dr' 
Paul Jones, hiduey F. Nel.son, Sidney T. Selby, and I.. Hasting.s. ' 

12 



In August 1923, it was decided that collections should be 
taken up in the church on Sabbaths to defray the contingent 
expenses. In 1824, Mr. Andrew White, of Philadelphia, 
presented the church with "a set of cups for the communion 
service." Prior to January 1826, the services of the pastor 
were shared with Pitts' Creek and Rehoboth churches, for 
about that time the Committee received a letter "containing a 
resolution on the dissolution of Rehoboth and the two other 
congregations." 

Until 1834 there had been a high pulpit in the church for 
the minister, and one below this, in which the "clerk" stood 
and raised the hymns, but in that year it was decided that 
"the pulpit in this church is not such an one, either in its 
appearance or construction, as to impart comfort and conven- 
ience to the pastor," and a new one should be built. In 1846 
a resolution was adopted to be sent to the General Assembly 
then about to convene, depreciating all discussion of the 
slavery question by that body. In 1850 we find that the 
ladies have a sewing society, for to them permission is given 
to repair the churchyard enclo-Hires, and in 1855, some money 
is turned over to them to be expended for window shutters. 
In 1857 a parsonage was purchased. 

13 



It is to be deplored that tlie earliest records of this church 
were destroyed by fire many years ago, for much valuable 
historical data was lost to the church at large. A complete 
list of those who have served the church as pastors is not to 
be obtained, but after much research the following incomplete 
list has been compiled. It is not known positively how long 
Rev. Francis Makemie served, but it is presumed until just 
before his death, which occured in 170S. 
1683orl684 — 1708. Rev. Francis Makemie. Pastor. 

1708 — Rev. John Hampton. Pastor. 

1757— Rev. David Purviance. Supply. 

1776—1779. Rev. Samuel McMaster. Supplv. 

1779—1810. Rev. Samuel McMaster, Pastor. 

1811 — 1812. Rev. Stuart Williamson, Supplv. 

1812—1814. Rev. Stuart Williamson, Pastor. 

1814—1818. Pulpit vacant; services conducted by Mr. J. P. Duftield. 

1818 — Rev. Stephen Saunders. Pastor. 

1820—1829. Rev. Thomas B. Ballch. Pa.stor. 

1831— Rev. Alexander Campbell, Supplv. 

1831—1839. Rev. Cornelius H. Mustard. Supplv. 

1840—1848. Rev. James J. Graff. Pastor. 
Nov. 1848— to March. 1849. Rev. Mr. Munnis. Supply. 

1849— May to November. Rev. John Atkinson, Supply. 

1850 — 1857. Rev. Benjamin Grigsbv McPhail, Pastor. 
Oct. 1857 — 1859. Rev. Elkanah D. Mackey, Pastor. 

14 



1859—1868.- Rev. William D. Mackev, Pastor. 
1869—1870. Rev. Charles Beach. 
1872—1876. Rev. Benjamin F. Mvers, Pastor. 
1879—1883. Rev. David Conwav, Pastor. 
1885—1891. Rev. James Campbell. Supply. 
1890—1893. Rev. David Bruce Fitzgerald. Pastor. 
1894—1898. Rev. William Swan, Pastor. 
1899— Re\-. Joseph B. North, LL. D., Pastor. 



15 



OCT 11 1904 



